Themes: Loss of Innocence
One of the major arcs in “Araby” is the narrator’s movement from innocence to experience. As the story begins, the narrator is one of many neighborhood children who play daily; he describes “the career of our play” as they run all over from the starting point of their street. There are, however, hints of the adult world to come in the remnants left behind by the priest who used to live in the narrator’s house—particularly the “central apple-tree,” which in the story’s deeply Catholic context evokes humans’ biblical expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
The beginning of the narrator’s infatuation with Mangan’s sister is a clear point of transition. He creates an image of her rather than realistically interpreting her. He becomes obsessed, afraid that schoolwork or interruptions from others will force him to stop thinking about her. This is despite the fact that Mangan’s sister seems to have no special interest in the narrator, only speaking to him once within the story, and is described several times as “brown.” The reader is reminded that she is a girl like any other, and it is clear that the narrator’s depiction of her is highly subjective.
After the narrator begins to dream of Mangan’s sister, he isolates himself—feels differentiated, even, in the strength of his affections—and seems to stop playing with the other children on his street, instead seeing them from afar while he thinks of her instead. As he waits for his uncle to return home so he can go to Araby, he says,
From the front window I saw companions playing below in the street. Their cries reached me weakened and indistinct and, leaning my forehead against the cool glass, I looked over at the dark house where she lived.
The narrator’s journey to Araby, alone in a “bare carriage” of “a special train for the bazaar,” is itself set up as a sort of quest. Yet it signals the distance between the Araby of the narrator’s imagining—an “Eastern enchantment” that might just make Mangan’s sister return his affections—and the reality of his day. His uncle forgets about the bazaar entirely; the bazaar does not have the exotic spirit that the narrator imagined and is instead composed of English shopkeepers; the half-dark space of the hall late at night even recalls the too-familiar space of a church. Though a few afterimages of the narrator’s imagined outcome flicker (“two men . . . counting money on a salver” and “the great jars that stood like eastern guards at either side of the dark entrance to the stall”), the story’s end is characterized by the disappearance of light at the top of the hall and the narrator’s accompanying disenchantment. By the last sentence, the narrator feels “anguish and anger” at his “vanity” and his realization that what he had imagined is so far from the prosaic truth.
Expert Q&A
What is the significance of the quote, "Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger"?
The quote "Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger" signifies the narrator's painful realization of his own naivety and vanity. It marks his understanding that his dreams and desires are insignificant to the world, highlighted by his failed expectations at the bazaar. This epiphany leads to feelings of deep sorrow and anger as he recognizes his unimportance.
What does Araby symbolize for the protagonist and his goal?
For the protagonist, Araby symbolizes the allure of beauty, mystery, and romance, offering an escape from his mundane life. Initially, he views the bazaar as an enchanted place where he can fulfill his romantic quest for Mangan's sister by bringing her a special gift. However, upon arrival, he is disillusioned by its tawdriness and commercialism, realizing that his dreams are crushed by reality and leaving him trapped in his dreary existence.
In "Araby," how do the boy's feelings about the bazaar change after his visit?
The boy's feelings about the bazaar change from excitement to disillusionment after his visit. Initially, he is eager to find a gift for Mangan's sister, imagining the bazaar as a magical place. However, upon arrival, he overhears a trivial conversation and realizes his romanticized views of both the bazaar and his feelings for the girl were naive. This epiphany leaves him feeling ashamed and marks a transition from innocence to a more mature understanding of reality.
What does "Araby" symbolize to the boy and how is the story's conflict resolved there?
In "Araby," the boy views the bazaar as a symbol of romantic and spiritual adventure, merging his infatuation with Mangan's sister and his religious fervor. The bazaar represents an exotic quest akin to a knight's journey. However, the story's conflict resolves when the boy confronts the mundane reality of the bazaar, realizing his fantasies are mere delusions. This epiphany leaves him disillusioned, highlighting his transition from naive boyhood to a more mature understanding of reality.
In "Araby" by James Joyce, what obstacles prevent the narrator's goal and what epiphany does he experience?
In "Araby," the narrator faces obstacles such as his studies, lack of money, and the delay caused by his uncle's late return, which prevent him from reaching the bazaar on time. Upon arrival, he finds it nearly closed and realizes the triviality of his quest. This leads to an epiphany where he sees himself as vain and foolish, awakening to the superficiality of his desires and the disappointment in his romantic idealism.
What change has the protagonist of "Araby" undergone based on the following quote?
"Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger."
In "Araby," the protagonist undergoes a profound change from idealistic childhood innocence to disillusionment and self-awareness. Initially, he romanticizes his feelings for Mangan's sister and views his trip to the bazaar as a noble quest. However, upon experiencing the banal reality of Araby, he realizes the vanity of his fantasies. This epiphany leads him to see himself as "driven and derided by vanity," filled with "anguish and anger," marking his transition to a more cynical adulthood.
What is the significance of the following quote from "Araby"?
Some distant lamp or lighted window gleamed below me. I was thankful that I could see so little. All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: "O love! O love!" many times.
The quote from "Araby" highlights the narrator's internal conflict between romantic idealism and religious fervor. This confusion is symbolized by the setting and his actions, such as entering a room associated with both religious and secular influences. The imagery of veils and his prayer-like gesture underscore his mixed feelings of burgeoning sexuality and religious devotion. Ultimately, this conflict leads to his epiphany and disillusionment with both the bazaar and his romantic ideals.
How does the boy in "Araby" lose his innocence?
The boy in "Araby" loses his innocence when he realizes that his romantic ideals and dreams of being with Mangan's sister are illusions. His disillusionment occurs after facing numerous obstacles to reach the bazaar, only to find it nearly closed and unremarkable. This epiphany makes him aware of the hollowness of his ideals and the harsh realities of life.
Why is the narrator of "Araby" naïve?
The narrator of "Araby" is naive due to his simplistic view of love and the world, stemming from his youthful innocence. He is inexperienced in dealing with his feelings for Mangan's sister, associating success in winning her attention with buying her a gift at the bazaar. His naiveté becomes evident when his expectations are unmet, leading to a disillusionment that marks his transition to a more mature understanding of reality.
Why does the "Araby" narrator imagine carrying a "challenge safely through a throng of foes" and what is the contrast between his dreams and reality?
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